Apoptosis inducer and method of screening for a substance inhibiting acylated homoserine lactone

Abstract

The present invention relates to an Akt inhibitor comprising a compound represented by formula I: wherein R is C4-30 linear or branched acyl, which may be substituted. The present invention further relates to a method of screening for a substance inhibiting acylated homoserine lactone by culturing animal cells with a test substance in the presence of acylated homoserine lactone represented by the above formula I, and then detecting inhibition of Akt activity or inhibition of the survival signalling pathway in which Akt is involved in the cells.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of screening for a substance that inhibits acylated homoserine lactone, comprising
 (i) culturing animal cells with a test substance in the presence of acylated homoserine lactone represented by formula I: 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R is C 4-30  linear or branched acyl, which may be substituted; and
 (ii) detecting phosphorylated-Akt, wherein increased phosphorylation reflects inhibition of acylated homoserine lactone; and 
 (iii) identifying the substance as one that inhibits acylated homoserine lactone. 
 
     
     
       2. A kit for using in the screening method of  claim 1 , comprising the following elements:
 a) an acylated homoserine lactone represented by formula I: 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R is as defined above,
 b) an animal cell, and 
 c) an anti-phosphorylated Akt antibody.